Folding dining room table with crossed pivotally connected legs



Oct. 26, 1954 F. CORDOLA 2,692,307

FOLDING DINING ROOM TABLE WITH CROSSED PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LEGS Filed Oct. 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Fred Cardo/a INVENTOR.

l'a- 9 m 5% 1954 F. CORDOLA 2,692,807

FOLDING DINING ROOM TABLE WITH CROSSED PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LEGS Filed Oct. 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fred Cardo/a 1N VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 26, v 1954 OFFICE TENT FOLDING DINING ROOM TABLE WITH CROSSED PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LEGS Fred Cordola, Odessa, Tex.

Application October 5, 1953, Serial No. 383,999

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to folding dining room tables and more particularly to a folding table wherein the legs do not interfere with the per sons sitting at the table.

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding dining room table of simple and efficient construction wherein there are no corner legs to interfere with the users when the legs are unfolded.-

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding dining room table having an improved leg supporting means therein.

'A further object of the present invention is to provide a folding dining room table having improved retaining means for positioning the legs thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a folding dining room table wherein the legs lie fiat against the top member when in folded position.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to, the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom view of the preferred form of the present invention with the legs in unfolded position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 with the legs in folded position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 with the legs in folded position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the means for locking the legs in unfolded position;

Figure 8 is a bottom view of an end of the means for locking the legs in unfolded position; and

Figure 9 is a detailed view of the means for locking the legs in folded position.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the improved dining room table forming the subject of this invention includes, as best shown in Figure 2, a top member I0 having foldable legs l2 secured to the undersurface thereof.

A pair of spaced parallel rails I4 are secured to the undersurface of the top member Ill adjacent the sides thereof. The rails [4 are shorter than the length of the top member H) whereby a space is formed between the ends of the rails I l and downwardly extending flanges 16 at the edges of the top member 10. A pair of spaced notches l8 are formed in each of the rails i l in the lower edge thereof. The notches iii are positioned from each end of the rails I14 approximately one-quarter of the length of the rails 14.

The legs l2 comprise a pair of vertical members 29 pivotally secured together in crossed relation at the midpoints thereof, as at I3. A pair of upper and lower horizontal cross members 2 l 22 are suitably secured intermediate their ends to opposite ends of each vertical member 20. The lower cross members 22 form a pair of spaced horizontal base members for the vertical members 29 and the other two, upper members 2! form a pair of horizontal leg supports for securing the vertical members 20 to the table.

The ends of the upper cross members 2| forming the leg supportsare adapted to slide on the rails l4. Retaining means are provided for keeping the members 2! in contact with the rails M. The retaining means comprises a member overlying each of the rails l4. Each of the members is formed of a pair of straps 24 which are secured at one end to opposite flanges 16 adjacent the top member Ill. The other ends of the straps 24 are secured together by a spring 26. The ends of members 2| lie between the straps 24 and the rails l4 and are thus resiliently held against the rails M.

The top member ID has a pair of members 28 secured to the undersurface thereof between the rails 14 and closely adjacent thereto. The members 28 are of a length substantially equal to the spacing of the notches I8 in the rails Hi. A latch 30 is pivotally secured to each end of the members 2B and is adapted to overlie the members 2! forming the leg supports when the members 2| are engaged in the notches I8.

The top member ID is further provided with a block 32 secured to the undersurface thereof adjacent the midpoint thereof. A latch 34 is pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the block 32. The latch 34 is adapted to overlie one of the vertical members 20 when the legs are in folded position.

To set up the table the members 2| are moved into engagement with the notches l8. The latches 30 are moved to overlie the members 2| to retain the legs in unfolded position. To fold the table first the latches 30 are moved to inoperative position, then the members 2| are withdrawn from the notches l8 and moved along the rails [4 to the spaces formed. between the ends of the rails l4 and the flanges 16. The ends of rails [4 are rounded to permit easy movement of the members 21 thereon. The latch 34 is moved to overlie one of the vertical members to retain the legs in a folded position.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a folding dining room table, a top member guide means secured to the undersurface of said top member, leg supports slidably engaging the lower surface of said guide means, retaining means engaging the lower surface of said leg supports and maintaining the leg supports in contact with the guide means, a folding leg member secured to each of said leg supports and a base member secured to the lower end of each of said leg members, said guide means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails, said leg supports comprising a pair of spaced parallel members extending transversely to said rails with opposite ends engaging said rails for slidable movement thereon, said retaining means comprising a pair of resilient members secured to the undersurface of said top member and overlying said guide means, said members each comprising a pair of flexible straps secured to said top member and a spring secured between said straps, said rails each having a pair of spaced notches adjacent the midportion thereof and in the lower edge thereof, said leg supports being received in said notches when the leg members are in unfolded position.

2. In a folding dining room table, a top member guide means secured to the undersurface of said top member, leg supports slidalbly engaging the lower surface of said guide. means, retaining means engaging the lower surface of said leg supports and maintaining the leg supports in contact with the guide means, a folding leg member secured to each of said leg supports and a base member secured to the lower end of each of said leg members, said guide means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails, said leg supports comprising a pair of' spaced parallel members extending transversely to said rails with opposite ends engaging said rails for slidable movement thereon, said retaining means comprising a pair of resilient members secured to the undersurface of said top member and overlying said guide means, said resilient members each comprising a pair of flexible straps secured to said top member and a spring secured between said straps, said rails each having a pair of spaced notches adjacent the midportion thereof and in the lower edge thereof, said leg supports being received in said notches when the leg members are in unfolded position, said rails being of less length than said top member and said leg members whereby the leg supports will lie against the top member when the leg members are in folded position.

3. In a folding dining. room table, a top memher guide means secured to the undersurface of said top member, leg supports slidably engaging the lower surface of said guide means, retaining means engaging the lower surface of said leg supports and maintaining the leg supports in contact with the guide means, a folding leg member secured to each of said leg supports and a base member secured to the lower end of each of said leg members, said guide means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails, said leg supports comprising a pair of spaced parallel members extending transversely to said rails with opposite ends engaging said rails for slidable movement thereon, said retaining means comprising a pair of resilient members secured to the undersurface of said top member and overlying said guide means, said resilient members each comprising a pair of flexible straps secured to said top member and a spring secured between said straps, said rails each having a pair of spaced notches adjacent the midportion thereof and in the lower edge thereof, said leg supports being received in said notches when the legs are in unfolded position, said rails being of less length than said top member and said leg members whereby the leg supports will lie against the top member when the leg members are in folded position, said top member being provided with a latch member adjacent its midportion thereof which latch engages one of the leg members in its folded position to retain the leg members in folded position.

4. In a folding dining room table, a top member guide means secured to the undersurface of said top member, leg supports slidably engaging the lower surface of said guide means, retaining means engaging the lower surface of said leg supports and maintaining the leg supports in contact with the guide means, a folding leg member secured to each of said leg supports and a base member secured to the lower end of each of said leg members, said guide means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rails, said leg supports comprising a pair of spaced parallel members extending transversely to said rails with opposite ends engaging said rails for slidable movement thereon, said retaining means comprising a pair of resilient members secured to the undersurface of said top members and overlying said guide means, said resilient members each comprising a pair of flexible straps secured to said topmemher and a spring secured between said straps, said rails each having a pair of spaced notches adjacent the midportion thereof and in the lower edge thereof, said leg supports being received in said notches when the leg members are in unfolded position, means-overlying the supports when the leg members are in unfolded position to retain the supports in the notches in the guide rai s.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,217,772 Kade Feb. 27, 1917 1,237,269 Abraham Aug. 21, 1917 1,369,251 Lewis Feb. 22, 1921 1,559,426 I-Iekrdle Oct. 27, 1925 1,895,290 Lobel Jan. 24, 1933 1,994,364 King Mar. 12, 1935 2,114,912 Cox Apr. 19., 1938 2,288,737 Page July 7, 1942 2,546,097 I-Iild Mar. .20, 1951 

